Thursday, December 17, 2015

Here is our holiday schedule for Christmas Day, Friday December 25 and New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1:

County Offices – closed

Libraries – closed December 25, 26 and January 1, 2; all branches will close at 6 p.m. on December 24 and 31

County Liquor stores – closed December 24 and 31 at 7 p.m.; closed December 25 and January 1

Recreation – all facilities are closed on December 25 and January 1; senior centers, community and neighborhood recreations centers will be closed Friday, December 25 through Friday, January 1; aquatics to close at 3 p.m. on December 24 and 31. Contact aquatics facility directly for modified holiday schedules

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Join us for Coming Together for Peace: A Rally to End Gun Violence on Sunday, December 20, at 5 p.m. at the Old Grey Courthouse in Rockville. Responding to the recent spate of
gun violence and the ongoing need for change, Montgomery County residents are
saying “enough is enough.” According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, on average each year more than 108,000 people in the U.S. are shot and 32,514 people die from gun violence.

Speakers will include County
Executive Ike Leggett; Congressman Chris Van Hollen; Cathy Mitchell, County
resident and mother of a Gun Violence victim; Robert Disney from the Brady
Campaign Against Gun Violence; and Police Chief Tom Manger. There will also be
music, and the rally will end with the lighting of hundreds of candles.

What a great turnout at the Committee for Montgomery Breakfast. In case you missed them, here are my remarks from this morning:

It’s a privilege to be here this morning with so many people who make Montgomery County the great place it is. Thanks to Raymond Sherbill (Chair, Committee for Montgomery), Steve Simon (Breakfast Chair), and everyone who has put together this excellent program. Thanks also to Nancy King and Shane Robinson (Chairs of our Montgomery County Senate and House Delegations) and to our entire Delegation for the partnership they have forged with all of us.I’m especially pleased to be here with my colleagues on the County Council – Council Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, George Leventhal and Craig Rice. Will they and their staff please stand? Know that they work countless hours on behalf of our more than one million residents.I truly congratulate the Committee for highlighting economic development this year. There can be no question that this needs to be the number one priority for all of us. Only by focusing on job growth and expanding our tax base are we able to preserve and enhance our great County services and -- most important --create opportunities for our residents. That’s why with every legislative choice I make, I ask myself: How does my decision enhance job growth? How does it expand the tax base? And how am I creating opportunities for all our residents to be self-sufficient and successful?Five years ago, in the depth of the Great Recession, we launched the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, a public-private partnership designed to fuel our economy. This past year, we took that achievement to the next level. We have created a new Economic Development Corporation -- moving us from a government- to a business-based model for County economic success. We are truly elevating the status of business and job growth in Montgomery County. The State will be a vital partner in this enterprise. So will our region. Once again, I thank the Committee for its wisdom in selecting today’s theme.This is all the more important since, as you know, our County revenues are disappointing. Here’s our reality check. The Wynne decision alone will cost us 76 million dollars in the next fiscal year. The shift of teacher pension costs will consume another 58 million dollars -- funds that we would much prefer to devote to the classroom. Now there’s a new threat -- the potential loss of 35 million dollars in revenue provided by our Department of Liquor Control. These pressures alone could drive tax increases, and that’s without considering any new initiatives, expanding successful programs or increasing education funding.Everyone here knows what’s at stake. We must meet our obligations to the community. At the same time we cannot unduly burden our residents or our businesses. But that will require all of us to work together -- in Annapolis and here at home. And it will require us to ask over and over and over again: How does my decision enhance job growth and expand our tax base? How am I creating opportunities for my community members?So let us join forces now as we have in the past. Let’s pool our energy and fortitude. Let’s say yes to economic success in Montgomery County and claim the future that our people deserve.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

On behalf of the County Council, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Police Officer Noah Leotta. In the days since he was severely injured in the line of duty, we have heard so many people he worked with, and so many in the Olney community where he grew up and lived, talk about his zest for life and love of his job as a member of the County Police Department. He represents the best of our Police Department and our community. This is a sad day for all residents of Montgomery County.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

As is our custom, we received a briefing on the County's fiscal plan and economic indicators in the last session of the calendar year. The briefing included lots of important information we will use as we start out budget season in January, including projections of a challenging revenue outlook. Get the background information here or watch the briefing (agenda item 4) here.

Good news for Upcounty residents: in a response to our request, the County Executive has advised us he is considering express bus service between Clarksburg and the Shady Grove Metro. We hope we will see it in his budget recommendation. Here's the full text of the memo:

December 4, 2015

TO: Nancy Floreen, Council President Craig Rice, CouncilmemberFROM: Isiah Leggett, County ExecutiveSUBJECT: Express Bus Service Between Clarksburt and Shady Grove MetroThank you for your memo of October 27, 2015, regarding your desire for a new express route from Clarksburg to the Shady Grove Metro. I have directed the Department of Transportation to provide to me the costs and parameters of such a route. You have my assurance that I will consider this route in my deliberations of the recommended FY17 operating budget and public service program.Thank you for your interest in providing a high level of transit service for the growing Clarksburg area. Please contact Al Roshdieh, Acting Director, Department of Transportation, if you have any questions.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

December 10 is Human Rights Day, as declared by the United Nations in 1948, so we took the opportunity to thank our Office of Human rights and the Human Rights Commission. They enforce anti-discrimination laws in housing, commercial real estate, employment and public accommodations. The Commission also promotes, monitors and enforces fair housing laws relating to access and treatment. It provides training and technical assistance in civil rights laws and addresses community conflict motivated by prejudice, intolerance and bigotry based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability and sexual orientation and promotes increased understanding and tolerance among diverse groups. Now more than ever, we are extremely grateful to this group for their meaningful work.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Attention non-profit organizations: the Grants Portal is now open. You can use this one-stop portal to submit your application for both County Council and Executive grants. To learn more, attend one of these helpful workshops:

The content will be the same at all three workshops. The deadline to apply for a grant is January 13, and the Council will make its funding decisions at the end of May. If you have further questions, email council.grants@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7935.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

I'm very pleased to have been elected Council president in a unanimous vote of my colleagues. Roger Berliner was elected vice president, and we will serve one-year terms effective today. Here are the remarks I made to the Council:Thank you. I’m gratified and humbled by this election. I want to congratulate Roger Berliner as he assumes the role of vice president. Roger is a seasoned veteran of Council leadership, having already served as president and vice president as well as chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. And this year he will be chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. All of us will benefit from his counsel and experience. I especially want to thank outgoing president George Leventhal. Under his outstanding leadership we have truly been a "Council That Works to create a Government That Works." The breadth of the Council’s accomplishments this past year has been extraordinary. I will work hard to build on George’s record of listening carefully to our community and harnessing the ideas and energy of the entire Council. Thank you, George. There’s still plenty of work to do, especially since we anticipate serious budget challenges this spring. We must preserve and enhance the services that define us as a county, including public safety, transportation, the safety net for our most vulnerable residents, and our world-class education system. But the question we will need to ask ourselves is whether, as the County Executive has implied, these fiscal challenges will warrant a significant tax increase next year. Two weeks ago, at George’s suggestion, we started an intensive review of the factors driving the cost of government. We know that in the last 15 years, our per capita income has grown by 60 percent, but the percentage of our residents living below the poverty line has grown by just as much. In that period our County budget has doubled, even though it was flat during the Great Recession and has only grown slowly since then. We can’t pre-judge the decisions we will make in the spring, but I really want to make sure that we base them on the realities our residents face. That’s why I’m so focused on doubling down on our commitment to economic development, job growth and expanding the tax base. Five years ago, in the depth of the recession, we launched the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, a public-private partnership designed to leverage the best minds, resources, and institutions with the aim of fueling our economy. In a natural next step from MBDC, we are now replacing the County’s Department of Economic Development with a new non-profit organization, led by business leaders themselves, to strengthen our ability to retain current businesses and attract new ones. I have high hopes for this new kid in town. We expect the new Economic Development Corporation to think differently, act nimbly and truly elevate the status of economic development and business growth in Montgomery County. That will be good for the bottom line and good for our entire community.What else is on the agenda for 2016? Knowing my colleagues, I’d guess a lot. You are all champions for closing the achievement gap, protecting public health, expanding access to opportunities and preserving the environment. So I am confident we will have many innovative ideas to consider. And we will do so in partnership with the County Executive and our Delegation in Annapolis. I’m very proud to be a part of this pro-active and compassionate body. Colleagues, keep up the great work! Thank you for your support today and for your support in the coming year.

Monday, November 23, 2015

History buffs, check out this segment on County Cable Montgomery's The Bottom Line to learn about the rehabilitation of the Woodlawn stone bank barn and adjacent carriage house. The visitor center, which is scheduled to open in the spring, will feature interactive exhibits on the Underground Railroad, the Quaker Experience in Montgomery County, and the barn as a feature of the County’s agricultural landscape. You can get to the bucolic setting in Sandy Spring easily from our major population centers, and you'll be impressed with the the learning experience. We sure were when we took a sneak peek a couple of weeks ago.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Although we are only about four months into the current fiscal year, we are already looking at the basic elements and underlying priorities that will shape next year's budget and those after it. The County Executive has cautioned that fiscal challenges ahead may require a significant tax increase in FY17. Today our Council Administrator and staff gave an outstanding presentation on the factors driving the cost of government. You can get the whole report here.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Eight members of the Montgomery County Council wrote to State Senator Nancy King, who chairs Montgomery’s State Senate Delegation, and State Delegate Shane Robinson, who chairs the County’s State House Delegation, “to reiterate the County Council’s position on potential legislative changes to the County’s Department of Liquor Control (DLC).”

I joined Council President George Leventhal, and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer in writing the letter after Delegate William Frick and Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said they would be proposing bills to alter the County’s system of alcohol control.

“The bills proposed by Delegate Frick and Comptroller Franchot share substantial common ground with the County Council’s approach,” the letter states. “Our proposed legislation would also allow private wholesalers to sell directly to retailers and restaurants. However, the Frick and Franchot proposals seek a complete change without regard for the aspects of DLC operations that actually work well for consumers and taxpayers or the impact on other county priorities.”

In light of news reports that Delegate Frick and Comptroller Franchot plan to pursue legislation in Annapolis to require private distribution of alcohol in Montgomery County, we felt it was timely to reiterate the County Council’s position on potential legislative changes to the county’s Department of Liquor Control (DLC).

The bills proposed by Delegate Frick and Comptroller Franchot share substantial common ground with the County Council’s approach. Our proposed legislation would also allow private wholesalers to sell directly to retailers and restaurants. However, the Frick and Franchot proposals seek a complete change without regard for the aspects of DLC operations that actually work well for consumers and taxpayers or the impact on other county priorities. The Council’s approach is limited to privatizing the aspect of its operations that DLC has not managed effectively: the distribution of special order products. And our approach protects other county priorities.

Contrary to its connotation, "special orders" are anything but unusual. They are a routine purchase for restaurants and retailers, and they make up 85% of the 29,000-plus products available for order from DLC. For many businesses, special order products represent as much as 90% to, in some cases, 100% of their total order. The alcohol market has changed dramatically over the last few decades, and the timely and reliable delivery of special orders is critical to the success of businesses. Despite attempts by our DLC to rectify the issues affecting special orders, restaurants and retail stores continue to be dissatisfied with the selection and availability of product. The Council's proposed legislation seeks to address this issue head on by opening this segment to the private sector. Privatizing the whole market would exceed what is necessary to provide our restaurants and stores with an efficient and effective distribution system. The DLC has a 99% success rate with stock items; prices are competitive for stock items; and there is no negative economic impact from the DLC role in stock item delivery.

Furthermore, neither proposal addresses the most requested improvement from residents: the ability to purchase beer and wine in grocery stores. Residents often perceive Montgomery County’s control system as the primary impediment to their purchasing a six-pack at the grocery store or a case at Costco, but as you are aware, it is in fact state law which prohibits the sale of beer and wine in chain retailers, not county law. The County Council is amenable to the state reexamining if this is still the right policy for the time, but it should not be conflated with Montgomery County’s regulatory system. If we truly put ourselves in the shoes of our constituents, any reform effort will come up short if it does not also permit the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores.

While the County Council is not calling for full privatization, we are wholly supportive of reform. The Council does not believe the status quo is acceptable and has been working this year on how best to reform the Department of Liquor Control. Through the Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Liquor Control, the Council uncovered very serious issues at the Department of Liquor Control that would have in all likelihood gone unnoticed and unaddressed without its oversight. To date, DLC has not been an example of a government that works. There is need for significant improvement in the operations of DLC, but its shortcomings do not warrant dismantling the entire system.

Proponents of privatization have dismissed the approximately $30 million dollars in profit generated annually by DLC as insignificant in the context of an annual $5 billion operating budget, but these revenues are not trivial in terms of the programs and services they support and the tax relief they provide to residents. Without this $30 million in alcohol-related revenue, the county will have either fewer resources for education, transportation and other key priorities, or it will have to raise property taxes. As stewards of the state budget, you may appreciate thinking about what the relative impact of losing $30 million would be to the state. With a $35 billion state budget, the same impact at the state level would be about $220 million. Losing $220 million would pose a serious hardship for the state’s budget.

The impact of full privatization on the county’s capital budget would also be significant. The County currently has about $114 million in outstanding liquor bonds that are being used to fund capital projects. Without a secure revenue source, these projects would need to move to the county’s general capital budget, displacing other projects. Consider that $114 million is about half of all the capital funds that the county is seeking from the state to add much-needed classroom space to address overcrowding in Montgomery County schools. We do not want to have to remove $114 million in needed projects, such as schools, libraries or transportation, from our capital budget.

Although incremental, the option favored by the Council represents significant progress after years of inaction. Previous Executives and Councils were unable to overcome the challenge of how to replace any potential loss in revenue, but through collaboration with the many stakeholders and rigorous analysis, we have identified a solution that minimizes the impact to the county, and meets the modern expectations of retailers and consumers. Like you, we want to ensure that every segment of the public is served by our alcohol laws. Allowing private wholesale distribution of special order beer and wine to licensees moves us forward in a responsible way, and does not preclude additional reforms from taking place. With the Council’s approach, consumers, retailers and restaurants should see tangible improvements in the availability of products and their bottom lines. It seems prudent to give this consensus approach a chance. The Council is committed to monitoring the effectiveness of any reforms and revisiting these issues until the public is satisfied.

Rather than fully privatize the DLC, whether through legislation or a ballot initiative, we respectfully ask that you support our careful and reasoned approach -- recognizing that there is substantial common ground, as the council proposal allows private distributors to operate in the County for the first time and in a way that has the greatest economic benefit.

Thank you for considering these facts. We look forward to working with the delegation in the coming months to achieve the right balance in public policy.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Good news. Montgomery County has maintained its Triple-A bond rating for 2015 from three Wall Street bond rating agencies. Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s all affirmed the "AAA" rating – the highest achievable -- for the County. They all termed the outlook for Montgomery County as “stable.” The Triple-A bond rating enables Montgomery County to sell long-term bonds at the most favorable rates, saving County taxpayers millions of dollars over the life of the bonds. The rating also serves as a benchmark for numerous other financial transactions, ensuring the lowest possible costs in those areas as well.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 29, 2015—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to fill an expired term on the Bethesda Urban Partnership Board of Directors. Andy O’Hare’s second term has expired and he is ineligible to apply for reappointment.

Letters of application must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

This position is open to applicants who live in a residential community outside of, but adjacent to, the Bethesda Urban District. The Council will recommend three candidates to County Executive Ike Leggett, and he will select one to serve on the board.

The Bethesda Urban Partnership is responsible for the maintenance of streetscape and streetscape amenities; the promotion and implementation of special events and marketing initiatives; and other similar activities. The board directs all aspects of the Urban District program including management of the contract for the County to run the Transportation Management District (Bethesda Transportation Solutions) and serves the community in the provision of Urban District services.

The 11-member board includes the following: two members nominated by the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce; three members who are, or represent, owners of an optional method development; one member who is an owner, partner, proprietor or corporate officer of a small business; one member who resides in a residential community within the Bethesda-Chevy Chase planning area and is nominated by the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board; one member who is a resident member of the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board and is recommended by the board; one residential representative from an adjacent neighborhood who is nominated by the County Council; one member who lives within the Urban District; and one ex-officio, non-voting County Executive representative.

The board currently meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 7:45 a.m. Members serve three-year terms without compensation. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Applicants should submit letters of interest with a resume to: George Leventhal, President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications also can be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov .

Letters of application must be received no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. The names of all applicants are published and resumes made available for public review.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I was pleased to present a County Council Proclamation to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and Local 1664 for their outstanding efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research and programs.

Through the International Association of Fire Fighters Passionately Pink Campaign, firefighters trade in their traditional on-duty shirts for bright pink ones throughout the month of October. So far, they have raised nearly $15,000 to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Red Devils through sales of the shirts.

One in eight women in the United States (or 12 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in her life, making breast cancer the most common cancer among women except for skin cancer. I salute the firefighters for doing their part to help defeat this terrible disease.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 8, 2015—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for positions on its Fiscal Year 2017 Grants Advisory Group. The Council will appoint the volunteer community panel to review grant applications and advise it on proposals received from the non-profit community. Letters of interest from applicants must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9.

The Council believes that a strong partnership with non-profit organizations is critical in meeting the County’s needs. The Council has established a grants process in which the Council accepts applications from non-profit organizations seeking funds, forwards proposals to the Grants Advisory Group for advice and comments and then makes funding decisions during its spring budget deliberations.

It is anticipated that the Grants Advisory Group will be appointed in December and will be asked to report to the Council by the end of April 2016. The Council will designate the chair of the advisory group.

Panel members will need to attend training sessions and review relevant materials during late January and February. The applications review process will take place between late February and April 15.

The Grants Advisory Group will be asked to provide the Council with written comments on each of the grant proposals. The workload will vary based on the number of applications received and panel members appointed; however, it is expected that each member would review approximately 20-25 applications. Panel members should anticipate approximately six to eight meetings between late January and mid-April, with the potential for weekly meetings in March.

Applicants for the Advisory Group may not be employees of, or members of a board of, a nonprofit group applying for Council grant funding. However, applications will be accepted from members of panels reviewing Community Development Block Grants or Community Service Grants, as well as from other advisory boards or community groups.

Interested applicants living or working in the County should submit their letter of interest with a resume to: Council President George Leventhal, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 or via email to County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Letters of interest must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9. For more information regarding the Grants Advisory Group, contact the Council Grants Manager at 240-777-7935 or council.grants@montgomerycountymd.gov

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

I'm honored to be receiving the 2015 Policy Advocacy Award from Communities Engaged in Advocating for Smoke-free Environments (CEASE) for my work to ban electronic cigarette use in places where traditional tobacco smoking is prohibited.

I'll accept the award at the CEASE annual conference this Saturday at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Council President George Leventhal, who chairs the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee, is also named in the award.

I was the lead sponsor of Bill 54-14 that was unanimously approved by the Council in March. The bill prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes in public places where traditional tobacco smoking is prohibited. The bill also requires child-resistant packaging for nicotine containers.

Perhaps swayed by the belief that electronic cigarettes are safe, or emboldened by the fact that e-cigarettes have little odor that parents could detect, teens who have never tried traditional cigarettes are using e-cigs, putting themselves at risk for nicotine addiction, nicotine poisoning or exposure to harmful chemicals. I am not willing to gamble with the health of our current generation of young people. The Council did the right thing by putting these protections in place.

The CEASE Policy Advocacy Award recognizes individuals who have played a major role in developing and/or facilitating the passage of important tobacco-related legislation, regulations or private policies. Recipients of the award may have achieved success by serving in public office, in appointed positions or as advocates for the public’s health.

Electronic cigarettes have a cartridge that holds a liquid solution containing varying amounts of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals; a heating device; and a re-chargable battery. Generally, puffing action activates the heating device and vaporizes the liquid in the cartridge. Although they do not produce tobacco smoke, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals. There is a concern that e-cigarette use may serve as a gateway or introductory product for youth to try other tobacco products.

CEASE is a collaborative organization that aims to reduce tobacco use and to promote healthy living in Southwest Baltimore. CEASE provides smoking cessation treatment and prevention activities, disseminates data and information and engages in public advocacy. It partners with businesses, faith-based organizations, public schools and recovery organizations to educate, encourage and excite residents to choose healthier ways of living.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Having battled breast cancer myself, I am particularly sensitive to the need to limit our exposure to toxic chemicals. I am proud that Montgomery County is taking the lead in protecting public health and welfare in this way. All residents, and particularly our children, stand to benefit from reduced exposure to pesticides. Here is the full press release on today's action:

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 6, 2015—The Montgomery County Council today approved amended Bill 52-14 that bans the use of pesticides on County-owned and private lawns, becoming one of the few jurisdictions in the nation to have such restrictions. One of the amendments to the original bill will allow the County’s Department of Parks to continue to use pesticides on playing fields as part of an integrated pest management program and requires the department to develop a plan that would lead to maintaining fields without pesticide use by 2020. The department will conduct a pilot program in the interim period to study the impact of maintaining fields without using pesticides.

Amendments that were approved today were proposed in a memo on Oct. 2 by Council President George Leventhal (the lead sponsor of the original bill) and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Tom Hucker, Nancy Navarro and Hans Riemer. The amended bill was enacted by a vote of 6-3, with those five and Council Vice President Nancy Floreen in favor. Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Sidney Katz and Craig Rice were opposed.

Public hearings on the bill were held on Jan. 15 and Feb. 12, with more than 300 attendees at each. More than 300 people attended today’s session.The enacted bill provides for a phasing of effective dates, with provisions related to County-owned property and County parks taking effect July 1, 2016. Today, on a motion by Council Vice President Floreen, the bill was amended to have provisions related to private property taking effect on Jan. 1, 2018 (rather than the originally proposed Jan. 1, 2017).

In addition to lawns, the bill also restricts the use of certain pesticides on public and private playgrounds, mulched recreation areas and children’s facilities such as child care centers. The bill’s restrictions do not apply to gardens. They do not restrict pesticide use for the control of noxious weeds or invasive species, for human health or agricultural purposes or to prevent significant economic damage. The memo of Oct. 2 from Council President Leventhal and Councilmembers Elrich, Hucker, Navarro and Riemer offered amendments to recommended changes to the original bill that had been made by a majority of the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment (T and E) Committee on Sept. 17. The recommended changes approved by the committee would have eliminated the ban on the use of pesticides on County-owned and private property lawns. T and E Committee members Berliner and Floreen supported the amendments. Councilmember Hucker was opposed. In addition to restoring the restriction on the use of certain pesticides on both County-owned and private property, the approved bill substantially clarifies the method of determining which pesticides are subject to the restriction.

“Today’s action is another step in the ongoing effort to make Montgomery County the healthiest, safest county in the country,” said Council President Leventhal. “Countless studies have linked pesticides to a wide range of health conditions in children and adults and, since the bill was introduced one year ago, I have received hundreds of reports from constituents of children and pets experiencing adverse effects from the application of pesticides.

“Local government can—and should—step in a preventative way to protect the public’s health, even when there is not complete scientific certainty. The science may never be conclusive since it involves complex chemical interactions, but the absence of incontrovertible evidence does not justify inaction.

“I am extremely optimistic about what the passage of this bill will mean for Montgomery County’s economy. Now that this bill has become law and that harmful chemical treatments will be banned, I think it will foster an extraordinarily competitive industry for alternative lawn care options in the County.

“Property owners have a right to maintain their own property, but they do not have a right to inflict harm upon their neighbors. Residents will still be free to hire any lawn care professional to treat their lawn or to manage their own lawn care, but they can do so now with the confidence that their family will be better protected.”

Council Vice President Floreen said: “Having battled breast cancer myself, I am particularly sensitive to the need to limit our exposure to toxic chemicals. I am proud that Montgomery County is taking the lead in protecting public health and welfare in this way. All residents, and particularly our children, stand to benefit from reduced exposure to pesticides.”

Councilmember Elrich said: “This legislation is an important step toward protecting our public health and environment. We have an obligation to let the public know that our regulatory agencies’ actions do not keep pace with the multiple recent scientific findings. In 2015 alone, we have seen important news: glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp, is classified as a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; a study links pesticides to antibiotic resistance, and, perhaps most important, a study of daughters whose mothers were exposed to DDT 54 years ago shows an almost four-fold increase in breast cancer risk in their daughters.

“DDT was banned in 1972 because it was endangering our national bird, the bald eagle and not because of health impacts on people. If we had waited for the proof that DDT caused cancer, it would have been used for 40 more years, and many more women would have been at increased risk for breast cancer. We lack certainty about the safety of many EPA registered chemicals, and many earlier studies do not begin to assess risk pathways to human health that are widely recognized today.

“I did not want to look back in 20 years and say that we could have acted. This bill acts on the precautionary principle, restricting and reducing the use of pesticides and exposure wherever possible. It does so based on the scientific evidence. I think as the public understands the science, they will appreciate our action.”

Councilmember Hucker said: "Our first concern cannot be protecting homeowners' right to the cosmetic benefits lawn pesticides promise, especially when there are alternatives. Our first concern has to be protecting public health and the environment."Councilmember Katz said: “The health and safety of our residents remains my utmost priority, and the Council should rightly do all it can to limit exposure to hazardous chemicals on the properties we maintain. However, I still have many concerns about how we encourage the reduction of chemicals on privately-maintained properties in a responsible, thoughtful, and cost-effective manner. Today’s discussion made it abundantly clear that we don’t have all the answers. We must continue to educate and inform not only the public, but ourselves regarding the implementation of this legislation.”

Councilmember Navarro said: “I'm proud of the work that Montgomery County has done today in passing this groundbreaking pesticide legislation to restrict the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes. I have stood behind this bill from the beginning because I believe that it is the Council's responsibility to work to protect Montgomery County's public health.

“As this bill is implemented, the education campaign will be key. Educating the public on the intent to reduce major health risks and the effects of these chemicals will be a critical piece of enforcement. This bill will set the national standard for reducing pesticide use and creating a safer and cleaner environment for our communities.”

Councilmember Riemer said: "People need and trust the government to protect them from health risks associated with toxic chemicals. Having reviewed the scientific evidence, I find that there is enough concern to justify restrictions on the application of lawn chemicals. As a parent of two young children, my priority in this legislation is to protect the health of all children in our community. I believe we have done that today."

According to the Department of Labor, Montgomery County's employment rate in
August was only 3.8 percent – down from 4.6 percent last August. Almost 10,000
more County residents had jobs compared to the year before.

Friday, October 2, 2015

We've just learned that retired
Air Force Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, who retired after 28 years in the
U.S. Air Force as one of the most decorated women in U.S. military history and
who was one of the few military women to serve in Vietnam who was not a nurse,will
be among the featured speakers on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Montgomery County
honors the men and women who served the nation during the Vietnam War. The Honor and Gratitude program will take place at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, starting
at 10:30 a.m. Note that although the event is free, registration is required.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

What a treat it was to present a County Council Proclamation to Jim Clifford, who became the world's oldest person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming when he swam across the English Channel in ten hours, three minutes. The Open Water Triple Crown consists of three swims--21 miles across the English Channel, 20 miles across the Catalina Channel and 28 miles around Manhattan Island. At age 63, Jim broke the record for the fastest swim across the English Channel in the over 50 age category. He completed the Catalina Channel swim in nine hours, 49 minutes and the Manhattan Island swim in nine hours, 30 minutes. What an amazing accomplishment.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Here's the full press release:Bob Schieffer, who recently retired as host of the CBS show Face the Nation, has agreed to be the host and guest speaker on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Montgomery County will honor the men and women who served the nation during the Vietnam War. The event will take place at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, starting at 10:30 a.m. The Vietnam War—which changed the lives of those who served and altered the political scene back home—ended for the United States in 1975. Honor and Gratitude: Montgomery Salutes Vietnam Veterans will be the first significant event in those 40 years to honor the County’s Vietnam veterans. It is estimated that between 130 and 140 Montgomery County residents lost their lives in the Vietnam War. There are more than 13,000 Vietnam veterans currently living in the County. County Executive Ike Leggett (who is a Vietnam vet), Council President George Leventhal and the County Council will lead the special ceremonies at the Universities at Shady Grove at 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. The event will be recorded and broadcast on many of the public cable television channels that compose the County’s PEG (Public, Education, Government) organization, which is hosting the event. In addition, the PEG organization will be recording the stories of many of the veterans for a documentary. The program will include a look back at some of the significant events of the U.S. involvement of the conflict that dates to July 8, 1959, when two U.S. military advisers were killed in a raid at Bien Hoa. More than 800 people are expected for the Oct. 24 event, including those who were present in major actions of the 11-year U.S. involvement. Those events included attacks on the USS Maddox in August 1964 that led to Congress on Aug. 7, 1964, passing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that gave President Lyndon Johnson the power to take whatever actions he saw necessary to defend South Vietnam against Viet Cong forces. Honor and Gratitude: Montgomery Salutes Vietnam Veterans event organizers are currently seeking to contact more of the veterans who will be honored on Oct 24. Those veterans, or family and friends of the veterans, seeking more information about the event should call 301-424-1730 / ext. 350. Additional details, including how to register to attend the free event, can be found at:http://tinyurl.com/pdo4h4q“It has been almost four decades since our Vietnam veterans returned home,” said County Executive Leggett. “We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge their courage and patriotism and say thank you for making the world a better place. As a veteran of the Vietnam War, I know the sacrifices that were made by members of our military during times of war. This event is a perfect way for all of us to pay tribute to these brave and honorable men and women.” Mr. Schieffer was a reporter for more than half a century and 2015 marked his 46th year at CBS News and his 24th anchoring "Face the Nation." Prior to joining CBS in 1969, he was a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram where he was the first reporter from a Texas newspaper to report from Vietnam. Mr. Schieffer has won virtually every award in broadcast journalism including eight Emmys, the overseas Press Club Award, the Paul White Award presented by the TV News Directors Association and the Edward R. Murrow Award given by Murrow's alma mater Washington State University. In 2008, he was named a living legend by the Library of Congress. In 2013, Mr. Schieffer was inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Speakers at the event will include veterans who served in various aspects of the Vietnam conflict. The event will honor their service and also will look at how those experiences influenced their lives since. “So many in our community heroically served our nation, and the world, 40 years ago,” said Council President Leventhal. “Oct. 24 will be a day where our County recognizes those whose actions helped that had such a great impact on our nation. There have been many books written, and many movies made, about the people we will honor, but on this day, we will personally thank—and hear directly from—some of the men and women who did so much to shape the life and freedom we know today.” An important part of event will be the opportunity to record the stories of the Montgomery residents who served in Vietnam. “Whether they were troops in the jungles, on helicopters and bombers, serving on the ships, the river patrol boats, in the medical corps or the troops supplying them all, there are stories that have yet to be told about Vietnam,” said Merlyn Reineke, chair of the PEG Governing Board. “This event will introduce a new generation to the sacrifices made by the brave men and women in Vietnam, and as the County’s cable providers, we will be there to preserve these stories so future generations will know about their heroism. It is hard to believe there has never been a major event to honor Montgomery County’s Vietnam vets, but we think this is the right time to salute them.”

Friday, September 25, 2015

On Tuesday the Council will hold
special ceremonies to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month. The special event on
“The Current State of the Latino Community in Montgomery County” will include a
panel discussion with Hispanic and Latino leaders in the County whose work on
social justice issues have helped shape the community. There also will be a
video presentation featuring Hispanic and Latino residents who will share their
life experiences and express their views on issues that will shape the future. Tune in to County Cable Montgomery at 11:00 a.m. to see it.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

We received a report today from the Office of Legislative Oversight describing school funding and allocation patterns within Montgomery County Public Schools. The report, titled Resources and Staffing among MCPS Schools, compares differences in class size, staff tenure, per pupil expenditures and teacher salary costs between MCPS’ schools with the highest rates of free and reduced priced meals and those with the lowest FARMS rates. The report also examines the additional state and federal revenue that MCPS receives and budgets for ESOL and compensatory education programs that serve these two student subgroups.

The achievement gap between poor and middle class or wealthy students remains one of the most important and most intractable problems within our otherwise excellent education system in Montgomery County. I’m grateful to the Office of Legislative Oversight for its in-depth look at the resources allocated to resolving this long-standing issue. The findings raise some complex questions that I encourage the Board of Education to consider seriously.

Each year, the Board of Education asks the County Council for additional funding over Maintenance of Effort to meet the needs of its increasingly diverse and low-income student enrollment. According to the OLO report, though, MCPS only allocated two-thirds of the $151 million it received in additional federal and state aid for low-income students to compensatory education programs designed to meet their learning needs. That leaves $47 million in funds designed to close the gap unaccounted for. Why should the County Council ask taxpayers to chip in more resources for closing the achievement gap when MCPS hasn’t used all the money it already has precisely for that purpose?

MCPS notes in its response to the report that using $47 million in compensatory education funding for non-compensatory education programs is legal under state law. I don’t question whether it is legal, but I question whether it is morally right given the persistence of the achievement gap between poor and non-poor students in MCPS. What could MCPS have done for under-achieving students if the $47 million had been spent exclusively on compensatory programs? MCPS claims that it must use the $47 million in compensatory funding for other programs in order to maintain the high quality of instruction across the County. Does MCPS really need to tap this relatively small resource when the total MCPS budget is $2.3 billion? Where is the nearly two and a half billion dollars going if not to instruction across the County?

These are serious questions, and I look forward to working with MCPS on serious solutions. I thank the Office of Legislative Oversight for its hard work on the report.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Tomorrow at 9:30, the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee will hold its fourth worksession on Bill 52-14 which would restrict the use of cosmetic pesticides.
The bill, as introduced, would ban the use of “non-essential” pesticides on lawns, certain athletic playing fields, and County-owned public grass areas. It also would require property owners to post a notice when they apply pesticides and would require the County to adopt an integrated pest management program for certain County-owned property. The bill contains exemptions for agriculture, control of noxious weeds and invasive species, maintenance of golf courses, the protection of human health and the prevention of significant economic damage. At tomorrow's meeting, the committee will consider several proposed amendments to the bill. If you would like to follow along, you can watch the meeting live on County Cable Montgomery. It will also be available on demand 24 hours later. You can get background information on the Council’s Web site.

Friday, September 11, 2015

The public is invited to attend a presentation by the Maryland Transit
Administration (MTA) regarding recent scope changes to the Purple Line project.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the
Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring. The Purple Line
is a proposed light rail line that will run from Bethesda in Montgomery County
to New Carrollton in Prince George’s County. The presentation by MTA will begin
promptly at 7 p.m. and will be followed by an open house, during which attendees
will have an opportunity to discuss project changes with staff.Adjustments to the Purple Line scope were made after a thorough review to
identify ways to reduce project costs. As a result, some requirements have been
reduced to provide more flexibility, encourage greater innovation and achieve
cost savings. A detailed list of the scope changes can be found at www.purplelinemd.com. The revised
approach will help deliver a more cost-efficient light rail system while still
providing quality service and honoring commitments made to the Purple Line
communities.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

We're accepting applications from qualified voters of the County for
appointment to a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board.
Generally, the Board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect
employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System. Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., August 27, 2015—The Montgomery County Council is accepting applications from qualified voters of the County for appointment to a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board. Generally, the Board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System.

Applications must be received in the Council office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Current members of the Board are Raul Chavera (unaffiliated), Michael Kator (Democrat) and Charlotte Crutchfield (Democrat). Mr. Chavera’s term will expire Dec. 31, 2015.

By law, no more than two of the three members of the Merit System Protection Board may be of the same political party. The appointee for this position may be a Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

There are two methods in which the board processes appeals:•A written decision issued after a review and discussion of a written record.•A written decision issued after a pre-hearing conference and a formal hearing in cases involving a suspension, demotion or dismissal.

The board, on a periodic basis, conducts special studies, audits or inquiries of the administration of the merit and retirement pay systems and, in this effort, may compel the attendance of witnesses. Written reports of its findings and recommendations are filed with the County Executive and the County Council. The board also provides comments on any proposed changes in Merit System law or regulations.

The board holds hearings during the day, which can take the full day, with any additional proceedings scheduled for subsequent evening(s). Also, the board normally meets once per month for approximately three hours during the day. Additional time is also required for preparatory work.

Members of the board receive $7,812 per year, which is adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the percentage change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Board members are restricted in political activity while serving. Section 403 of the County Charter states in part “No member shall hold political office or participate in any campaign for any political or public office during the member's term of office." Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Applicants should submit letters of interest with a resume to: George Leventhal, President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 by 5 p.m. on Oct. 14. Applications also can be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov .

Resumes should include professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address. Letters and resumes submitted are made public as part of the appointment process. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidates will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

In an effort to familiarize the construction industry with the new building codes adopted to implement the 2015 code cycle, the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) is holding a series of open house sessions hosted by DPS’ divisions of Commercial Building Construction and Residential Construction & Intake. The sessions, in late August and September, will focus on new executive regulations adopting the 2015 International Building Code changes from previous editions, affected policies and procedures, and related code interpretations.

A morning and afternoon session will take place on three consecutive Fridays – August 28, September 4 and 11 -- in the Executive Office Building, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Morning sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will cover the following topics: International Building Codes (IBC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel-Gas Code (IFGC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Afternoon sessions will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and topics include: International Residential Code (IRC), International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISP & SC) and IECC. Registration is required for each session: August 28; September 4; and September 11.

Sign language interpreter services will be provided upon request with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. If these, or other services or aids are needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6272 or 240-777-6256 (TTY), or email jessica.fusillo@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Recreation – Bethesda, Germantown, Western County, Wheaton/Glenmont and MLK outdoor aquatic facilities will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Olney Indoor Swim Center will be open normal hours; all other indoor aquatic facilities, as well as the Long Branch and Upper County outdoor pools, will be closed. Administrative offices, senior centers and community centers are closed.

Montgomery Parks -- most Parks facilities are open during holiday weekend. For operating schedules, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.

This morning, Metro received a formal request from Montgomery County to transfer the Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center into the regional transit system. While Metro has 10 days to formally accept the facility, no issues are expected, and Metro officials have set a target opening date of Sunday, September 20. Located adjacent to the Silver Spring Metrorail Station, the three-level multi-modal transit center was built by Montgomery County, and will provide expanded bus facilities and improved connectivity between Metrorail, Metrobus, MARC Rail, Ride On Bus, intercity buses and taxis. With multiple points of entry for pedestrians from three directions, and access from two bike trails, the center is also expected to improve pedestrian and vehicle flow in Downtown Silver Spring.The transit center is located at 8400 Colesville Road on about half of the area formerly occupied by bus loops and short-term Metrorail parking. The Transit Center’s features include:

Over the next four weeks, Metro will complete final preparation of the facility for operations, complete training of bus operators and notify riders of the upcoming opening and associated service changes.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Following our tradition of regular town hall meetings, we will will hold a special meeting for leaders of the County’s faith community on Wednesday, September 16, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting, in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room, will start at 7:30 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria.

The Council is working with the interfaith community and the Interfaith Community Liaison associated with the County’s Office of Community Partnerships in organizing the meeting, which is open to the public. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 faith community leaders representing many different religions throughout the County.

Please RSVP by calling 240-777-7931. The meeting will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

The meeting will provide the participants with an opportunity to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of the Councilmembers in an organized, but informal, setting.

Following our tradition of regular town hall meetings, we will will hold a special meeting for leaders of the County’s faith community on Wednesday, September 16, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting, in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room, will start at 7:30 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria.

The Council is working with the interfaith community and the Interfaith Community Liaison associated with the County’s Office of Community Partnerships in organizing the meeting, which is open to the public. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 faith community leaders representing many different religions throughout the County.

Please RSVP by calling 240-777-7931. The meeting will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

The meeting will provide the participants with an opportunity to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of the Councilmembers in an organized, but informal, setting.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

If you participated in last month's 26th annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale, you may already know that Montgomery County has the highest percentage of farmland under agricultural land preservation easements in the nation, and that agriculture contributes $287 million to the County's economy. There are 540 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises in the County with the average farm size being 118 acres. Do you want to know more? Mark your calendar for the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair August 14-22.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

On September 3, more than 800 regional business women and men will converge at The Power Conference: Women Doing Business. You can attend any of 40 workshops and small group roundtables or visit the 70 exhibitors in the Business Marketplace and Resource Center. You can also show off your perfect pitch to a panel of business rock-star judges and compete for cash prizes and market exposure.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Here's your chance to weigh in on the location of Early Voting Centers. The full press release:

The Montgomery County Board of Elections has scheduled a public hearing to receive testimony from the public about the list of Early Voting Centers for the upcoming presidential election. Each local Board of Elections in the State of Maryland is required to review its list of early voting sites every two years and make recommendations to the State Board of Elections. The Montgomery County Board is seeking public input prior to making its recommendations, which are due at the end of September.Under state law, Montgomery County must select at least eight Early Voting Centers and may select an additional ninth site. Early voting in Maryland runs from Thursday to Thursday, ending the Thursday before the election, although in person voting by absentee ballot is still available at each local Board of Elections until Election Day.The public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015, in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, in Rockville. In addition, public comments will be heard during the August 31, 2015, meeting of the Board of Elections to be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, in Gaithersburg. Details for how to testify at the hearing are available at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Elections/BoardInformation/PublicParticipation.html. Written comments may be sent to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16.

Maps of sites that have previously been used by the county are available on the Board of Elections website at www.777vote.org and a complete list of all sites being considered will be available prior to the hearing.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

In response to projected revenue shortfalls, we reduced the FY16 budget by $54 million. Although we have had to make mid-year cuts before, this is the first time we have approved a savings plan so early in the fiscal year. Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 28, 2015—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved a plan to produce savings of $54.0 million in the County’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget. On July 8, County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed a $50.8 million savings plan in response to a decline in the County’s projected income tax revenue.The Executive’s plan was in two parts. One part included $40.7 million in operating budget reductions. The other part included $10.1 million in capital budget current revenue reductions. The Council approved FY16 savings of $54.0 million. This consists of $35.8 million of the $50.8 million in reductions proposed by the Executive and $18.2 million from additional adjustments to the FY15-20 Capital Improvements Program.Both County Executive Leggett and Council President George Leventhal had said a savings plan is needed now because there has been a major change in the County's revenue picture since the Council agreed on the County's operating budget for FY16. The 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Wynne case on May 18, combined with the impact of a shortfall in the County's estimated income tax revenue for FY15 that became clear in late May and June, could reduce the County's revenue by more than $150 million in FY15-17 and $250 million in FY15-18.

Although the Council's approved reserves for FY16 are at their highest level ever at $383 million (8.2 percent of adjusted governmental revenues), achieving savings now in FY16 will help meet the County's serious revenue challenge in FY17. Further steps in FY16 may also be required.

Among the items that the Executive recommended be reduced, but the Council preserved, were funds to provide permanent housing and needed supports for homeless veterans; to supplement the salaries of workers who help the developmentally disabled; to implement the Child Care Expansion and Quality Enhancement program; for positive youth programming services for the Wheaton High School Wellness Center; increase library materials and increase hours at two libraries; for scholarship awards at Montgomery College; to support the operation of the Piney Branch Elementary School pool; to support pedestrian safety initiatives including raised pavement markings; to fund Fire and Rescue Service operations for Hyattstown Engine 709, Kensington Ambulance 705 and paramedics in Kensington; for removal of tree stumps on public property; and to expand the Bethesda Circulator bus service.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Across the Agricultural Reserve, Montgomery County’s farmers are preparing for the annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale, which will be held on July 25 and 26, rain or shine. This year’s event is slated to be one of the biggest, and most diverse, in the tour’s 26-year history.

While many farm tour participants have been in business for multiple generations, (such as Lewis Orchards, founded in 1888), this year’s Farm Tour and Harvest Sale will also feature some newer farms, like Soleado, the only lavender farm in the County, and Madison Fields, a 400+ acre enterprise that uses equine therapy and farming to help children and adults with autism and other special needs.

We created the Agricultural Reserve in 1980, and it encompasses more than one-third of the County, or 93,000 acres, ensuring that agriculture and farming remains part of the history and heritage of the County and creating a resource for future food and fiber production.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 21, 2015—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Bills 33-15 and 53-14 that will improve taxi service in the County by helping the existing taxi structure better compete with new types of services. The bills will provide opportunities to have more taxicabs available to respond to calls and address working conditions in some situations for drivers.The lead sponsor of Bill 33-15 was Councilmember Roger Berliner, who chairs the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Sidney Katz, Tom Hucker, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer. The bill will create a Transportation Services Improvement Fund, impose a per-trip surcharge on certain transportation network services to finance the fund and provide for disbursements from the fund to be used to improve the delivery of accessible taxicab services and transportation services to eligible senior citizens and people of limited income.Expedited Bill 53-14 was sponsored by Councilmembers Berliner, Floreen, Rice and Riemer. The bill was combination of three original bills directed at improving taxi service.Key provisions of the bill address taxicab regulations for company owners and drivers, including rules for Passenger Vehicle Licenses (PVLs). The bill authorizes the issuance of 50 accessible vehicle licenses to a driver-owned cooperative to help individual drivers and spur innovation in the expansion of accessible transportation. It also creates a centralized dispatch system for all County cabs—an idea strongly promoted by Councilmember Riemer. The bill provides for more taxicabs to be available for calls and requires the County’s Department of Transportation to develop a plan to increase the numbers of wheelchair-accessible cabs (vans) that have lifts or ramps, with a goal of having 100 percent accessible taxicabs in the County by 2025.In its 2015 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law regulating "transportation network companies" (TNCs), otherwise known as ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. The law, which became effective on July 1, created a new regulatory framework within which TNCs in the State will operate. The law also authorized a county or municipality that licensed or regulated taxicab services on or before Jan. 1, 2015, including Montgomery County, to impose a charge of up to 25 cents on every TNC trip that originates within the county or municipality. The revenue generated from the assessments must be used for "transportation purposes." This opened the way for Montgomery Bill 33-15 that will create a Transportation Services Improvement Fund, impose a per-trip surcharge on certain transportation network services to finance the fund and provide for disbursements from the fund to be used to improve the delivery of accessible taxicab services.“The measures our council passed today will fundamentally reform our County’s regulation of the taxi industry, and these reforms will accrue to the benefit of all – the industry, drivers, consumers, the disabled community, seniors and low-income residents,” said Councilmember Berliner. “These bills address the legitimate issues of our drivers’ working conditions for the first time in our County’s long history of taxi regulation, and support the creation of a new, competitive, low-cost driver cooperative. Our drivers have been exploited have been exploited for too long. It needs to stop. And with this bill, it will stop. The bills also provide new funds and 66 new licenses to support service directly to our disabled residents, who have been poorly served by our existing fleets and remain unserved by the TNCs. And we also have made reforms that help our existing taxicab companies, reducing their costs, eliminating outdated regulations and providing new licenses to our smaller, newer fleets. These bills were truly a win for all stakeholders and our entire riding public.”

Most County taxicab companies lease their vehicles to drivers by the day or the week, and it is up to the driver to meet their expenses and make a living. Taxicab leases are often upward of $100 per day, and the driver keeps their vehicle full time. Under this model, the company has little direct interest in how much business the driver turns over, but if it has many drivers bringing in substantial income, demand to lease its vehicles will increase, and it may collect more money in lease fees. Under a lease system, the driver typically pays for the gas, while the company pays for any repairs. Taxicab companies that run on a lease arrangement make their money on how many vehicles are being used—in effect turning them into car rental companies that provide dispatch, marketing, insurance and credit card payment processing services. At present there are five fleets operating in the County holding a total of 549 PVLs. In addition to the fleets that hold the majority of PVLs and engage the services of lessee drivers, there are 221 PVLs held by individuals. Individual PVL holders own their vehicles, but must affiliate with a fleet or association. Affiliation rates are substantially lower than lease rates, as they essentially represent the cost to a driver of using a fleet's dispatch and marketing. Among the provisions of amended Expedited Bill 53-14 are a requirement of one-year maximum terms on agreements between licensees and affiliates or drivers and a prohibition on automatic renewal of agreements between licensees and affiliates or drivers. The bill will also require the County Executive to establish standardized lease/affiliation agreements, maximum lease and affiliation rates and permissible ancillary fees that may be charged to drivers.“While the transportation industry has evolved dramatically over the years, particularly with the introduction of TNCs like Uber and Lyft, our fundamental commitment to ensuring quality service for our residents with disabilities has not wavered,” said Councilmember Floreen, who chairs the Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee. “Now, TNCs will be required contribute to improved accessible services through a surcharge they will pay into the Transportation Services Improvement Fund. This is good news for our residents who have mobility challenges and rely on taxi service for their routine transportation needs.”

Councilmember Hans Riemer said: “We are dealing with an industry in crisis. Our challenge was to find a way, in the face of the State’s decision to allow Uber to operate, to ensure the taxi industry remains profitable for drivers and attractive for passengers so that disadvantaged populations can continue to get the service only taxis provide. I am hopeful that we have risen to meet this challenge. I put forward provisions in this bill that will greatly improve service for consumers by applying Uber-like features to the taxi industry through universal digital dispatch apps, drastically improve working conditions for all drivers and provide a framework for a new, driver-owned cooperative to emerge, dedicated to providing service that is universally accessible to all residents of our County. I was glad to support other provisions that reduce outdated regulatory burdens for the industry as a whole. My congratulations to Committee Chair Roger Berliner, who put his heart into this bill, and everyone involved. It is a new day for taxis in Montgomery County.”

Bill 53-14 will require the issuance of 100 new licenses by Jan. 1, 2016. Of these, 25 will be to individuals who do not currently hold a licenses and 25 will go to small fleets operating in the County. Each of these allocations of 25 new licenses will include eight licenses for accessible taxicabs. The remaining 50 licenses will be for accessible vehicles, and will be issued to a driver-owned cooperative fleet, if the cooperative meets the fleet requirements of the law. If the 50 accessible licenses are not issued to the cooperative by June 1, 2016, either because it does not meet the fleet requirements of the law, or because it otherwise declines to apply for them, the licenses must also be issued to individuals who do not currently hold licenses.Under the bill, all licenses issued on or after Jan. 1, 2016 will be non-transferrable.

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 21, 2015—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Bill 17-15 that will limit some of the practices that have led to the predatory towing of vehicles parked on private properties.The lead sponsor of Bill 17-15 was Councilmember Roger Berliner, who chairs the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Tom Hucker, Sidney Katz, George Leventhal, Craig Rice and Hans Riemer. A public hearing was held on the bill on June 16, and the Public Safety Committee held two worksessions on it.The provisions of Bill 17-15 will:

Authorize the County Executive to set flat rates for certain towing services.

Require towing companies to have personnel available 24 hours a day at impound lots so vehicle owners can retrieve cars at any time.

Require one notice sign per 25 spaces in parking lots with 100 or more parking spaces, in addition to requiring signs at entrances.

Require photographic evidence of violations or of events precipitating the towing of a vehicle.

Prohibit the use of "spotters" to identify vehicles for towing.

Require towing companies to accept credit cards as well as cash for the redemption of vehicles.

The Council made several amendments to the original bill, including those recommended by the Public Safety Committee. Amendments include a prohibition of "patrol towing" of commercial lots by providing that a towing company "must not monitor, patrol or otherwise surveil commercial property for the purposes of identifying unauthorized parked vehicles for towing and removal."Other amendments included in the bill will: strengthen the Office of Consumer Protection’s ability to enforce the law; require written authorization for each tow in the form of an authorization form provided in person, or via fax, email, or other electronic means; make contracts between property owners and towing companies more informative as to respective parties’ obligations and liability under the law; and make several changes to more closely aligning the County law with State law.“Every year there are 30,000 tows from private property in our County. Too many residents have been victims of the unscrupulous business practices of predatory towing,” said Councilmember Berliner. “Towing is an extraordinary act, and it should only be done for legitimate reasons. The bill we passed today will better protect consumers. Notably, it will ban the use of spotters, who are used to identify and tow away vehicles as quickly as possible and it will give the Office of Consumer Protection the powers it needs to enforce the law and protect consumers. And at the same time, the bill was amended to ensure that our HOAs and condo associations, which have worked very hard to set the right balance in their parking policies, are treated differently from the commercial lots where we see the most worrisome predatory practices. This bill will not only help our residents but our businesses as well who lose customers as a result of predatory towing."The bill also will allow vehicle owners to retrieve personal property from a vehicle that has been towed, but has not yet been released. It sets a maximum $25 fee for “incomplete tows” in situations where a vehicle has been hooked up to a tow truck, but the owner then approaches the truck operator and asks for their vehicle to not be towed.Another provision in the bill requires property owners who wish to engage in non-consensual towing of vehicles for violating their parking policies to first electronically register their commercial lots and provide annual reports on towing activity, unless the director of the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) waives the requirement after a finding that Police Department records meet the OCP’s needs for enforcement of the law.

Welcome

Thanks for visiting my blog. Nancy At Large is designed to be a place where we can have a conversation about current issues in Montgomery County. I encourage you to be open and honest. Sure, it is ok to disagree. Just please be polite, and I'll be happy to publish your comments.

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About Me

I was elected as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council in 2002 and am now in my fourth term. I serve as chair of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee and am a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee.